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(No Modh) H. R. GILLINGHAM.

POSTAL PACKAGE. No, 389,665. Patented Sept. 18, 1888,

N, PETERS. mmmm hu. Washington. ac.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY R. GILLINGHAM, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAIFD, ASSIGNOR TO THE POSTAL PACKAGE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

POSTAL PACKAGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 389,555, dated September 18, 1888.

" Application filed January 21, 1888. Serial No. 261,486. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY R. GILLINGHAM,

of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Postal Packages; and I-do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in postal-packages; and it consists in, first, the combination of a suitably-shaped can having its upper edge turned inwardly, so as to form a flange, the wooden tube which is placed inside of the can and held in position by the flange, the bottle placed in the tube, the soft packing which is placed at each end of the bottle, the cover for the can, and a packing which is placed between the cover and the flange upon the can, so as to prevent the escape of any moisture in case the bottle should be accidentally broken; second,the combination of the can having its top edge turned inwardly,so as to form a flange,a suitable cover for the can, and a moisture-proof packing, which is placed between the cover and the flange,with the wooden tube placed in the can, and which is held in position by the flange, the soft packing which is placed at each end of the bottle, and an absorbent material, which is placed inside of the tube. in direct contact with the bottle, all of which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to produce a package in which liquid and pasty substances of all kinds can be sent with absolute safety through the mails without the slightest fear of the mail-matter becoming injured in case the bottle containing the fluid or pasty substance should become broken.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a package embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the packing.

A represents an outside inclosing jacket or can, which is formed of any suitable sheet metal, and which is preferably screw-threaded at one end, so as to allow the cover B to be screwed thereon in the usual manner. Inside of this can A is a tube, 0, of wood, composition, paper stock, or other substance, and which fits snugly inside of the can or frame A, and servesto protect the bottle containing the fluid or pasty substance from beingiujured in case the package should be struck against some hard object which would bend or flatten the outside sheet metal. This tube, being formed of some yielding material, receives the shock or blow, and both prevents the outside can or case from changing its form to any material degree and prevents the bottle from becoming injured. In order to both hold this tube C rigidly in position in the can and at the same time to prevent any leakage past the cap or cover should the tube become broken or injured, the edges of the can or frame A are turned over so as to form a flange, D, which both assists to hold the tube in place and serves as a bearing upon which the packing placed inside of the cover rests.

This packing is composed of a body, a, of paper or other similar material, a sheet of lead or other metallic foil, which is pasted or cemented upon the under side of the paper, and a protector, c, for the foil, composed of oiled paper. Owing to the delicate nature of the foil it is necessary to protect it from friction, lest the act of screwing on the cover should tear it, and thus ruin its kerosene and moisture proof qualities.

Should the tube becoinebroken and the bottle cracked or injured from any cause, no leakage can take place past the cover or cap, be-

cause the flange forms a hard bearing, upon which the cover or cap rests, so as to make an absolutely water, kerosene, and oil proof joint.

Inside of the tube is placed asuitable thickness of some absorbent material, G--such as blotting-paper-and which will at once absorb any substance which may leak from the bottle during transportation in the mails. In order to prevent any liability of the bottle becoming broken in being pitched around in the mailbags, there is a suitable thickness of some soft elastic material, I, composed of felt or any similar elastic substance, placed at each end of the bottle, as shown. The packing placed in the cover 13 is made water, oil, and kerosene proof, so that should the bottle become broken and all of the contents not be absorbed by the absorbent material no leakage can take place on account of the packing which is placed in the cover, as shown.

By means of the construction above described a postal package is produced which is absolutely safe for the transportation of liquid and pasty substances through the mail under all circumstances.

No claim is made in this application to the moistnre-proofpacking, for this forms the subject of another pending application bearing Serial No. 261,485.

Having thus described my invention, I clai1n- V 1. The combination of the can A, having its top edge turned over so as to form an internal flange, D, which both forms a tightjoint with the end of the wooden tube and a seat for the packing, the wooden tube, the bottle placed in the tube, the soft packing I, placed at each end of the bottle, the cover, and the moisture-proof packing placed between the cover and the flange D, substantially as shown.

2. The combination of the can having its top edge turned over the top edge of the wooden tube, so as to form atight joint therewith and a support for the packing. the cover, a moisture-proof packing placed between the cover and the flange, the tube 0, placed in the can. the absorbent material G, placed in the tube and in direct contact with the bottle, and the soft packing I, placed at each end of the bottle, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY R. GILLlNGlIAllI.

\Vitnesses:

EDM. P. ELns, A. S. PATTISON. 

